"I work with a variety of art techniques, but enjoy working with traditional cut-and-paste collage and illustration the best, because they allow my creativity to flow. My work merges fine art and design, while exploring themes of the feminine in nature, dichotomies, and transformation. I use beauty and restraint as refining lenses through which to focus and bring elegance to a subject. While I experiment with a variety of materials and processes, reoccurring motifs provide discernible cohesion between many of my works."

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Jessica Dame is an artist and freelance illustrator based in Columbia, South Carolina. Originally from Virginia, she grew up on the Chesapeake Bay and spent her days organizing her sticker collections, crafting illustrated stories, and drawing sea life. Largely self-taught, she graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Art in Art History and from the University of South Carolina with a Masters of Library and Information Science.

The natural world, vintage fashion and illustration, children’s book illustration, and graphic design are among Jessica’s strongest sources of inspiration. Jessica works in mixed media and has a particular love for ink, watercolor, gouache, and traditional collage. Under the moniker of Lady Dame Prints, her evocative designs appear on greeting cards, postcards, and stickers. Her work has been featured on Skirt! Magazine, and she has exhibited in Virginia and South Carolina.

overage series

They say, this is not incongruous. To my taste is quite pleasant, though. Such colors are spread in organic environment. Wrapped in raisin elegance with the brand new thirst. Cannot afford. Still late to early pretentiousness. Wandering around that bleached, remember it in purple juice! Streamed away for fertilization of new ethereal sprouts. No expectations, ripening by touch, the gazes are vanishing. As if in jest, with bare steps on serene day, the plisse folds flutter. Hardly touching the paving strewn with pollen, scarf flows after the emerald lisps. Whatever unknown bites have turned into forgetful with a bloom of fragile amethyst. Where did he get that disgusting chocolate jumper? Should be silver now. Fragrant apparel weaved from lacy peonies with strew of spice of smiles haggard with confuse. This scent has no age. Put it on and wear the whole day. Everyday. All year round.

interview

1. Tell us a bit about yourself. What inspires you to create? Where and when do you feel most comfortable? Who or what inspires and influences you?

Stereoprimitive! Yes, you are! Finally, I have the voice. Isn't it fame? Thank you, Sea Foam Mag! It is only the 4th interview, yet, I bet they are already controversial (I should probably start to encript secret messages in the interviews)! Each time I dig and manage to bring out some gems. Kidding. Only intestines.I'm a genius, who isn't? The force is a curse, inspiration - voluntary prosecution. Since very childhood I was quixotic, allergic to practical stuff: messed with colors to invent a new one, staged a ghost puppet show, walked on stone surfaces and picked up dry insects for the sacral beauty sake! Same shit, different day. Still collect rocks from my habitats to whisper the stories when I move. Comfortable? Seriously?

2. Where do you live? What are some significant traits of your surroundings (geographical, immediate and/or environmental)? How do they influence you?

Everywhere and nowhere, literally. The plan is to settle down. As an enlightener, I carry my luggage of kilograms of magazines, wreckage of conceptions and essences for the coloring. I chase the opportunities to grow and contribute (when I have a visa of course, my origin comes from the third-world country environment, and being a freelancer doesn't add much to the stability). Almost every encampment leaves a scar, vine stain on the mind-map, wrinkle or sketch and bouquets of stereotypes to work on (carefully fold and dry them, gently dissect afterwards).

3. Love the description of "Overage". Is there a personal feeling or situation that you can relate it to? if you had to describe it in one sentence, what would you say? What do you hope viewers take away from it?

So far art was produced by humans - it is infected with personality of the author. The series is the incarnation of an outdated pattern. It is not only about trendy-brandy fashion, mostly about aging and conversion. I collected several herbs to grow mould on them, extracted them with oil, and only then composed these collages, took pictures; the original is gone. Quite ephemeral (mail me for the protocol and on my 100th anniversary you can make such an installation). In one sentence - watch your petals. It’s all in the posture, liquid elegy I would say, the image appears as retro to us. Have we overgrown them? Is it just a memory? Whatever the viewer can find, poetry or bacteria - that’s the feed!

4. Are there any recurring themes or messages in your work or is each series its own message? Why?

I don't create collages*, rather meanings. There are plenty of pics around. The high mission is to invade minds with ideas, inject intracranially. To share the aid, to overcome the borders, frames… cages. In my case, visual aid. I’m still concerned that decoding is available only for sighted. Somehow my method intertwines with the digestion and appetizers. The common thing that is easy to approach and communicate through it, two-way as well. Look at this juicy lemon, smell the refreshing zest scent and oops-poops! *Lita spreads to various mediums - author's note.

5. How do you feel about the future? What are you hoping for from it, tangible or intangible?

The curve of marshmallow beaver tends to replace the agender cockroach! No one knows. I'm fine-tuned, empathic. Can be split into 10 engineers - too much vibes and impressions to distribute. Jalapeño-woman! The hot filling. The future, huh? Scared as a lady bug and calm as a stuffed seal - either fly from bloom to bloom or enjoy digestion. As an artist I think it is time to establish a holiday - "in honor of those who did not kill themselves" (according to some statistics, creative field is the leader in suicide rating).

6. There is no question (Lita just wants to throw up a word on the routine). Have you ever seen gipsy plumber? Street chemist-jugglers? Programmers that beg you to read the code from your palm?

Whereby musicians, actors, artists are the ambassadors of culture, the future heritage, prestige. I elitistically starve and my loan is close to a medic or layer student one. The buns and a good slut are always in need! Nowadays these "follow a dream speculation" just messes people up. Follow the common sense and save up! Artists are totally out of the system (even in Finland, one of the most civilized Nordic countries, the article in local paper said that only 3% of artists live on their artistic income). Welcome to the bloody shows where you can not only entertain, but also learn and suck from the energy share!Creators produce unique matter – Archimedes’s principle (he may be not a real person, anyway, people love fairy tales) could be discovered and, for sure, would have been by someone else. Authors’ ambrosia is unique!

7. What is the most beautiful thing you can imagine? And the most unpleasant?You`ve seen my creatures, I can imagine the whole universe. The question is sweet, thank you for asking. I suppose, the cocktail of beauty and disgusting that we are surrounded by: pinch off a piece of flesh, grind an amethyst, shed the light that pierces the ocean, leaf of melissa, acridity of pineapple, greed and bacteria on the tip of a knife. Leave to infuse.

links

"These pieces are a minimalistic approach to try and describe some of the indescribable feeling within me. A longing for something I've never known outside of my dreams."

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Tabitha is a Berlin-based designer with a background in fine arts, design, fashion, and marketing. Drawing from the cumulation of her experiences, she's learned to approach art with a critical eye and find beauty in the simple and seemingly mundane.

#CutUpConfessions aims to fluidly investigate the human experience through a mixture of collage and confessional writings. By playing with different structures and media, Cara is bluntly honest in words, often directed as a question or request, while hiding smaller, more nuanced admissions throughout the imagery.

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Cara Wieland is a Florida-based creative who believes art sparks conversation and conversation holds power. Her series, #CutUpConfessions, can be followed on her Instagram at www.instagram.com/carawieland, where she also posts art promoting disability awareness and political activism.

Marcos Morales is a graphic designer based in Heidelberg, Germany. He has a strong love for digital collage and illustration. He is curious, loves to travel and enjoys collaborating with other creatives. Find more at marcosmorales.com.ar.

MRCZ (Marcos) is a Brazilian artist born in 1991. He was born into a small town of ~3000 people and lived for years in a countryside house with his parents, which he believes to have changed him forever. He currently lives in the large city of Porto Alegre where he works in publicity. He started his artistic work in 2015, creating daily between college design courses and work. His main objective was to make something he could pour his entire heart into - to immerse himself completely. His productions are a way of expressing the challenges that come with the responsibilities of adulthood in a grand city. His inspirations include comics, music, the human mind and its gimmicks, philosophy, fiction and science. You can find more of his work here.

Jonathon Prestidge (formerly known as Jonathon Baker) has been producing collage art since early 1993, ever since he first discovered the work of artists John Yates and collage master Winston Smith. Jonathon was so impressed with the cutting, surreal and informative illustrations that he immediately decided to attempt his own creations.

Jonathon first began publishing his work in various underground magazines, including his own punk zine “Greedy Pigs”, but as the internet ballooned in popularity he began his own various web galleries and other people’s sites and blogs.

Recently, Jonathon has and has put together a free digital magazine to also showcase the work of other underground collage artists called “Cultural Dissection”. He also sells his work as t shirts and prints using various print on demand services. There is also a book of Jonathon's collage art in production.

Lara Minerva is a collagist with a bi-national German-Greek background. Her work is evocative, exploring sexuality, femininity and internal conflict. Her collages resonate aesthetically of course, but also emotionally through careful displays of vulnerability. They ask viewers to seek nature in humanity, flora sprouting up through naked women and fauna dwelling in female bodies. They call out slut-shaming by creating beautifully ornate (but powerful) depictions of nudity and sexuality. They offer a glimpse into emotional turmoil, presenting alluring exteriors that seep discontent, hunger, uncertainty. But that's enough from us - why not hear it from the artist herself? We asked Lara to share some of her work and her experiences with us, which you can find below. If you're still wanting afterward, you can find more at her website or on Facebook and Instagram.

​Welt-Entrücken"Welt-Entrücken" is an expression I found in Richard Wagners Tristan and Isolde. I understand it as a state of being where you are not tied to the world anymore and find yourself in transcendence. It is one of the collages where I used vintage porn. I often use vintage porn photos and make them look very romantic in my collages."

​The Taste of Silence"Text and Image to express my first and only synesthetic experience."

​​Sweet and Enchanting"A collage so sweet and delicate. Who would have thought that I used porn for it?"

​Freiheitssucht"How can I best translate this title… freedomaddiction? Oh, how I love contradictions."

​A Delicate Escape"Another collage about the desire to be somewhere else, to be free."

Artist Statement"I studied psychology and am therefore often influenced by psychological questions. I like to add into my collages a few of my own words or short quotes from my favorite operas. I am particularly inspired by Wagner and Strauss and if you look carefully you will sometimes find direct references. Their music and stories strongly resonate with me and often translate into an urge to create art. Art is something I do when I feel this inner urge to do so, when my soul is burning and in need to transform a feeling, a conflict, or even a thought into something expressive, something more tangible. ​Subjects of my collages are often conflicts or opposites which cause psychological tension. A recurring topic in my work is the concept of desire. Desire in general, how it feels like and what it does with us when we crave something or someone. But also conflicts like: What are we craving more, freedom or love? Soothing numbness or the intensity of feeling alive? Power or innocence? I hope that my collages can evoke a conflict - in the viewer as well as in me - while solving or soothing this conflict at the same time.​When I think about my working progress I find parallels to dreaming and dream interpretation. That is because, while making Collages I am dreaming, which means creating and experiencing on a very emotional level and at the same time I am interpreting what it is that I am perceiving and why."

Meet the multitalented Hannah Hurrle. She is a multimedia artist, an illustrator and a musician. She has been producing experimental electronic music under the name ssshheee for five years and recently started writing and illustrating a blog to document her journey as an artist and illustrator. The blog, Catazoa ("protozoa" meets "cat"), features recent work, a fun "How To Draw" series, and the start of many helpful tips for artists just starting out their careers. Below you'll find some cute animations, smooth tunes and some insight from their creator.

animations

"I have a feeling this will always be one of my favorite animations. What I like about it is that it is simple and effective at delivering an idea.

One thing I've learned that applies to both art and music is that everyone has within them a certain style, or a certain way of seeing things, and that no matter how simple of an idea something is, that style usually shows through. The trick is not to over think it, or cover it up with styles that don't fit who you are."

Taurus Constellation

"My birthday was this month. I was born on the cusp of Taurus and Aries. I'm not sure If I completely believe in astrology, but I don't not believe in astrology.

I definitely love the idea that the position of the planets and the stars in the universe affects our lives through some type of "force" that we haven't scientifically discovered yet. I mean, of course they do! Why not? Let's leave some magic in the world."

Myron S. Kauffman Animated Quote

"I wanted to express my passion for growing plants in an animation. When I found this quote, I felt a connection with its message of hope. I have much respect for it's original writer, the late Myron S Kauffman.

I wrote a short blog post about him around the animation, but I enjoy the way he is described in this book review by Annie Gottlieb better(1982-09-05). "Modern Jewish Mother". New York Times."

blog

​"I started Catazoa about four months ago as a platform to share my illustration and animation work. My blog is there so that if I experience success, I can share what I've learned with other artists so that we can all succeed together!

It has always been my dream to be a full-time freelance illustrator and multimedia artist, so years ago I started pursuing a tech school education in business and marketing. I needed to solve the problem of how to (realistically) fit my talents into the world around me. I think it's working? Is it working? Get in touch!"

album + artwork

​"Speaking of passion, I recently released a collection of tracks that I've been working on for a few years. The album is called 'The Bridge.

​The working title of this album was always "Glass Bridge", because I wanted to emphasize the anxiety and fear that come with making big changes in life. Its hard to cross those bridges, sometimes. Glass bridges, especially.

Making art and music can feel like exorcizing the different types of energy that enter your life. There is something really therapeutic about it. That's what it does for me. It lets me get my truth out. Not only in an incredibly cryptic, but also hopefully, in a way that other people can relate to."

"The art for The Bridge was inspired by a creative Christmas present from my boyfriend. He bought me one of those instant cameras that you can use underwater that had already been used. The real present was the mystery of what could be on the photos. It was a pretty fantastic gift.

After getting the photos developed, I cut out my favorite underwater gradients to make a series of collages by hand and then digitally in Photoshop. The result was four pieces that resemble something you might see glowing in the background on an episode of Star Trek Next Generation, and if this is true, that is exactly what I was going for.

I'm beginning to notice that a lot of my creative choices are closely related to my life experiences."

Alannah Lowman is a 24-year-old creator based out of Michigan. She is especially inspired and motivated by all the plants and different kinds of outdoor environments Michigan offers. She has been interested in art/creating for as long as she can remember, but it wasn't until her teenage years that she pursued it. When she is not making collages, she is outside taking photographs, painting, and drawing constantly. You can find her on Tumblr, Instagram or visit her website.